The Arizona Jewish Post highlights the pair of B'nai B'rith low income senior housing properties in Tucson, focusing on the quality of life enjoyed by its residents, as well as its visionaries, Holocaust survivors Gerd and Inge Strauss.

B'nai B'rith is the largest national Jewish sponsor of federally subsidized housing for the elderly in the United States. Our Senior Housing Network in the U.S. consists of 42 buildings in 26 communities, encompassing more than 4,000 apartment units and serving more than 8,000 people.

Read more about these properties and their residents, below:

Many Tucsonans are surprised to learn that the Jewish community sponsors not one but two nationally recognized independent housing communities for low and very low income seniors: B’nai B’rith Covenant House of Tucson and the Gerd & Inge Strauss Manor on Pantano.

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Covenant House resident Carolyne Vogel feels gratitude and relief for the Covenant House. “For years, I worked all the time and didn’t have any close neighbors,” she says. “Now I have two really good friends here. At Covenant House, it’s very relaxing. I feel safe here.” A four-year resident, she feels so secure that her basic needs are met, she’s liberated to focus on her hobbies.

Liz Kanter Groskind, president of the Strauss Manor board, echoes the sentiments of her counterparts at Covenant House. “We get handwritten thank you notes from the residents all the time,” says Groskind. “They truly appreciate all the extras. We simply believe that those who have the least should live somewhere dignified, beautiful and safe. We’re not going to let you merely subsist.”

Although both facilities house residents from diverse backgrounds, the numerous Jewish residents, including several Holocaust survivors, appreciate the Jewish touches that the boards provide, from menorot in the spacious and elegantly decorated lobbies, to Jewish library materials, to brisket and latkes during Chanukah and more.

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Both properties were the vision and work of longtime Tucsonan Gerd Strauss, who died in 2009.

Holocaust survivors Gerd and Inge Strauss, childhood sweethearts from Germany, immigrated to the United States in 1947 and relocated to Tucson in 1986. Strauss brought both properties to fruition in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and B’nai B’rith International, the largest national Jewish sponsor of federally subsidized housing for the elderly in the United States.

After building the 119-unit Covenant House in 1995, he went on to establish the 80-unit Strauss on Pantano facility that bears his name, which opened in 2006. Residents spend 30 percent of their income on rent; the rest is subsidized by HUD. Going into his 90s, Strauss was planning a third property in Sahuarita, which never materialized.

Tucson was lucky to benefit from the timing of Strauss’ vision and energy. “Section 202 program funding [HUD capital advances and operational subsidies] doesn’t exist anymore. It is difficult to recreate the types of programs our communities enjoy,” Olshan laments. B’nai B’rith continues to support the Tucson properties by providing technical and professional training to their supervisory boards and management and employment company, Biltmore Properties.

"Senior Prom" was a huge hit for residents of South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House and Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation in South Orange, N.J.

The inaugural event mimics similar programs at B'nai B'rith senior facilities around the country, and is just one of many popular social events hosted in each location throughout the year. The Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey put out a press release, covering the experience of the senior citizens, as well as the Seton Hall students who helped organize and host the event.

There were refreshments, dancing and musical entertainment by singer Peri Smilow and husband Budd Mishkin, a NY1 television personality; the couple performed classic rock songs, followed by more music and dancing courtesy of a DJ who played tunes specially selected by Mark Pressel, a former Broadway musical director and resident of Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation. Admission was free with the donation of a can of non-perishable food for the Our Lady of Sorrows food bank, which is supported by Seton Hall University.

“We found that older people really wanted a social activity and without question, the South Orange Senior Prom filled a need in the community,” said co-coordinator, Nan Samens. “It was spectacular and everyone walked out with a smile on their face. People already want to sign up for next year.”

The Senior Prom provided an opportunity for older adults to socialize with their peers as well as foster a stronger connection with Seton Hall University. SOS coordinators worked with Michelle Peterson from DOVE to arrange the dance. This winter, student volunteers from DOVE shoveled out residents’ cars at the two South Orange senior residences. Seton Hall offers senior discounts on its regular courses and also offers classes specifically for area seniors.

“We are thrilled to be working with the dynamic leaders of the South Orange Seniors, who are filled with energy and vision,” said Michelle Peterson, director of Seton Hall’s Division of Volunteer Efforts. “DOVE aims to serve our community through love and outreach. Our collaboration with SOS has been a wonderful experience for the seniors and Seton Hall students alike.”

Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, Peoria, Ill. was able to celebrate its first Good Deeds Day, an international celebration of community service held on March 15, 2015.

The Sam J. Stone B'nai B'rith Covenant Apartments were partners in the day of giving, hosting a performance from Hindu dancers, according to an article in the Peoria Journal Star.

Read highlights from the event, including thoughts from Susan Katz, a board member at the B'nai B'rith Housing building:

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“We wanted to mobilize people to give back to the community and to do good not just today, but every day,” said Susan Katz, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Peoria. “In Hebrew we have a word, ‘mitzvah,’ which means ‘good deed.’ It’s a very basic part of Judaism.”

More than 100 volunteers, including members of the Peoria federation, Hindu Temple of Central Illinois and First United Methodist Church, helped in 13 projects.Volunteers donated blood and bone marrow at Congregation Anshai Emeth in Peoria.

The kick-off point doubled as a collection center for care bags going to the Center for Prevention of Abuse and United Methodist’s Fish and Loaves program for the homeless and disadvantaged.Good deeds stretched all over the city. That included Springdale Cemetery to paint offices, [Sam J. Stone B'nai B'rith Covenant Apartments] where Hindu Temple members performed Indian dances for residents, and Avalon Street to restore a veteran’s home.

“We really made it our objective to serve the community through a variety of events,” Katz said.

Seton Hall University and the B’nai B’rith Federation House are integral parts of South Orange, N.J., serving vastly different demographics.

But in times of need, the two institutions work together very well.

In early February, as more than a foot of snow blanketed the town and temperatures plunged into the single-digits, the senior housing facility and university student volunteers traded hard work for hot cocoa.

Students at Seton Hall University helped residents at two senior living communities dig out their cars after recent snowstorms.The volunteer effort came through SOS—South Orange Seniors—who reached out to the Seton Hall University Division of Volunteer Efforts to shovel out cars at South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House on South Orange Avenue and Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation on Vose Avenue.[...]

Eight students showed up with shovels in hand on Saturday, Jan. 31 and on Tuesday, Feb. 3 to clear snow from residents’ cars in the communities’ parking lots.The students enjoyed some warm-up time afterwards with grateful seniors over hot chocolate and cookies. The Seton Hall University volunteers were Jack Yang, Daniel Chemey, Sahil Trivedi, Alyssa Morrissey, Jenna Copperwhite, Marissa Hutton, Veronica Beck and Amanda Cavanagh.

Many Americans are still feeling the effects of the economic recession that began in 2008. Even with the decline in unemployment rates and the recovery of the stock market, one segment that was hardest hit may never fully recover: senior citizens.

B'nai B'rith is the largest national Jewish sponsor of federally subsidized housing for the elderly in the United States with 42 buildings in 27 communities.

Mark Olshan, associate executive vice president, and Rachel Goldberg, director of aging policy at B’nai B’rith International, were reached for comment in the article, excerpts of which can be found below:

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Today, said Rachel Goldberg, director of aging policy at B’nai B’rith International, shrinking pensions and retirement accounts are contributing to a greater need than ever before.“People retire and are often living at a much lower standard than they did before,” said Goldberg, “so even in communities where you think of the people you know as being comfortable, there’s a real question as to how comfortable they’re going to be when it becomes time to retire, whether it’s because you want to or because physically, you have to.”

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B’nai B’rith officials, who have been reaching out to Jews in need for more than 170 years, say stereotypes have hurt their organization in the past.

Part of their work involves helping ensure Jewish seniors have a home to live in, something that has become increasingly difficult for many elderly citizens across the United States, as the cost of living has skyrocketed alongside an increasing life expectancy. With a fixed income and little to no access to additional sources of funds, many seniors turn to B’nai B’rith for their affordable senior apartments.“Obviously there are a lot of images of Jews in media as ostentatiously wealthy and all these ideas about running the entertainment industry and what not,” said B’nai B’rith’s Goldberg. “Those stereotypes about what Jews are and what Jews have still really do exist, and it affects not only public perception and anti-Semitism, but it makes it a little bit more difficult for low-income older adults who are Jewish to reach out for the services they need because people internalize those kinds of things. It’s one reason, in this community, that people are a little uncomfortable asking for help.”Mark Olshan, associate executive vice president at B’nai B’rith, can recall one not-so-distant memory of a town in southern Florida denying the organization’s zoning request to build affordable senior housing there because, town officials and community members said, “there’s no poverty in the Jewish community here.”

A nearby town got wind of what happened and offered land for the units, but the experience was a wake-up call, said Olshan.

"Senior Prom" at B'nai B'rith's Covenant Place in St. Louis was a major hit, both inside and outside of the senior living community.

In the week following the event, the St. Louis Post Dispatch ran a full-length feature on the event, covering the back story of many of the residents involved, as well as the young Jewish professionals and staff who organized the event.

A low rumble permeated the hall, and as the door opened, the whine of hair dryers and loud chatter blasted out.It was prom day, and everywhere you looked, volunteers were at work. They were armed with blow dryers and curling irons, with makeup brushes and mascara wands.While her nails dried, Darlene Flaherty, 66, told the women around her that she would be dressed to kill in an outfit she bought in Mexico.She also just had her second knee replacement done, “so I’m ready to dance tonight.”The fuss was all about the third annual senior prom June 1 at Covenant Place, a senior living complex in Creve Coeur.Rosy Weinstein, 93, tested lip colors and decided she needed a flashier tone, maybe berry tart.A stylist pinned Sonjia Williams’ hair into a French roll. Sonjia, 70, said she could dance better than everyone else, and that made her nervous. She didn’t want to look like a show-off.Not Anita Stevens. As a volunteer curled her hair, Anita, 83, bragged about a bra that would give her extra oomph that night.She stood up and gave a preview of her Elvis-like swivel. She was excited to show off her moves that night. But first, she needed to go home to her husband.She described Eric, 83, as a quiet man who is always by her side.

During an awards ceremony in Boston on Tuesday night, B’nai B’rith Housing and B’nai B’rith International presented the 2014 Distinguished Achievement Award to Pam Goodman, president of Beacon Communities Development LLC.

Goodman oversees operations at Beacon Communities Development and supervises transactions from initial conception through rent-up and occupancy.

She is a former member of the Board of Directors of B’nai B’rith Housing, whose mission is to produce nonsectarian housing, for low-income and mixed-income residents in communities located in and around Greater Boston.

While at Beacon Communities Development, Goodman has been responsible for construction or rehabilitation of more than 4,000 rental apartments and 200 for sale units in more than 70 communities in New England, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland.

“Beacon Communities Development has achieved great things under Pam’s stewardship,” said Susan Gittelman, executive director of B’nai B’rith Housing. “As we put the finishing touches on our newest project in Sudbury, I’m grateful that we have leaders like Pam within our organization to guide our successes. Her commitment to building a more equitable society and her ongoing support and wise counsel are so valuable to B’nai B’rith Housing and to our entire community.”